Bar dining is no longer just for the lonely traveler. Sitting at the bar is a great option for a first date, pre-gaming for a night of revelry, a quicker alternative when you've forgotten to make reservations, or a good way to scope out a new restaurant without committing to a full-service experience. Most restaurants recognize that guests who frequent the bar want something more to munch on than a questionable bowl of community peanuts. Thankfully, we have some great bar bites around the city. Here is a list of ten bar bites worth sinking your teeth into.
Grilled shishito peppers are one of the many tasty items on the new bar menu at Axis Lounge.
Photo by Julie Soefer
Located inside The Royal Sonesta Hotel, Axis Lounge is available for noshing every day from noon until 1 a.m. The bar boasts a fantastic selection of bourbons and other spirits. Chef Robert Graham recently launched a new menu that includes burrata, carnitas pizzadilla, tuna tartare and charred shishitos. Not to be missed is the chicken liver pâté with local honey and crispy baguettes, or the 44 Farms brisket and mac 'n' cheese nachos.
Bovine & Barley, 416 Main
Bovine & Barley’s U-shaped bar with the mild glow of HTX in the background is the perfect spot to partake in its beef-centric menu. Choose one of more than 30 beers to wash down your choice of brisket tacos, steak on a stick or skillet queso topped with chorizo. Highly recommended is the beef on a rock with sliced rib eye served with a hot rock, which allows diners to cook the beef to the desired temperature.
The creamy Crawfish & Sweet Corn Maque Choux is one of the seasonal bar bites available on Brennan's 777 menu.
Photo by Jamie Alvear
The 777 menu at Brennan’s was designed to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner. Available in the bar and courtyard daily from 2 to 7 p.m., the menu features a rotating selection of wines, cocktails and bites for just $7. The current menu showcases oysters and crawfish in tasty dishes such as Texas Creole Oyster “BLT,” Bayou Grilled Cheese and the incredible Crawfish & Sweet Corn Maque Choux.
Caracol, 2200 Post Oak No. 160
Caracol’s coastal cuisine and beachside ambience make bar dining a breeze. No trip to Caracol is complete without an order of the restaurant's famous wood-fired Gulf oysters drenched in chipotle butter and paired with a glass of sparkling wine. These delicious treasures are half-priced during happy hour along with a selection of $7 bites, which include sopes, taquitos, chicharrones and molletes.
Le Colonial's signature crispy egg rolls are a tasty bite to nibble on in the beautiful upstairs bar.
Photo by Jamie Alvear
This upscale Vietnamese restaurant has a comfortable upstairs lounge and bar with two balconies. The full menu is available at dinner, or from 5 to 7 p.m. you can order some of Le Colonial's most popular items for just $8. Among the delectable tidbits available are the Vietnamese sandwich (banh mi), the cold summer rolls (goi cuon) and the signature crispy spring rolls (cha gio).
